Spring has arrived, and United Methodist thoughts turn to.... Conferences. This year we have a plethora of meetings to hear about. First, General Conference has been happening in Ft. Worth. This is the once-every-four years (quadrennial) meeting that sets overall tones and changes the Discipline for us all.
Next there will be Annual Conference for each area (ours is Missouri). We will gather in Springfield to hear reports on all the things that Methodists are doing around the state, to be inspired and motivated forward in our various missions.
Later in the summer the Jurisdictional Conference will meet in Dallas to hear of the work of our 8-state area and to elect new bishops. (We keep the old ones and add more, for those retiring).
All of these meetings will have their controversies as well as their dull moments. Whenever UMs gather, we have ways in which we disagree, often strongly. We are a big church, and we have a diversity of opinions on many things. These days, our diversity seems most adamant in the area of gay/lesbian issues. We don't agree, and neither side wants to compromise. It's a tough thing to try to navigate. The United Methodist Church is a big tent, where many different folks live.
Thank God.
Jeannie
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